Integral support for mounting of door module

Abstract

A door inner panel has a wall defining an opening for receiving a door hardware module. The wall has at least one cutout with upper and lower integrally bent flanges defining the upper and lower margins of the cutout of the door inner panel. The door hardware module includes a molded plastic frame having a network of molded plastic structural elements which support hardware mounting surfaces upon which various door hardware components is mounted. The structural elements include integrally molded receptacles having upper and lower slots which are adapted to interfit respectively onto the upper and lower integrally bent flanges of the wall cutout of the door inner panel so that the molded plastic frame becomes supported on the door inner panel in readiness for the installation of fasteners between the molded plastic frame and the wall of the door inner panel.

We claim: 
     
       1. A vehicle door comprising: a door hardware module including a molded plastic frame having a network of molded plastic structural elements and hardware mounting surfaces;   a door inner panel having a wall defining an opening for receiving the door hardware module;   said door inner panel and said molded plastic frame having respective integrally formed slip-together interfitting elements by which the door hardware module is supported on the door inner panel; and   a plurality of fasteners connecting the molded plastic frame and the door inner panel independent of the slip-together interfitting elements to attach the molded plastic frame to the door inner panel and thereby prevent disconnection of the slip-together interfitting elements.   
     
     
       2. A vehicle door comprising: a door inner panel having a wall defining an opening, said wall defining the opening of the panel further having a cutout defined at least in part by a flange extending at an angle from the wall;   a door hardware module including a molded plastic frame having a network of molded plastic structural elements and hardware mounting surfaces, said molded plastic structural elements including at least one integrally molded receptacle adapted to slip fit onto the flange of the wall of the inner panel so that the molded plastic frame becomes supported on the door inner panel; and   a plurality of fasteners connecting the molded plastic frame and the door inner panel independent of at least one molded receptacle and flange to attach the molded plastic frame to the door inner panel and thereby prevent disconnection of the slip-together interfitting elements.   
     
     
       3. A vehicle door comprising: a door inner panel having a wall and the wall of the panel further having a cutout and upper and lower flanges defining upper and lower margins of the cutout;   a door hardware module including a molded plastic frame having a network of molded plastic structural elements and hardware mounting surfaces, said molded plastic structural elements including at least one integrally molded receptacle having upper and lower slots adapted to slip respectively onto the upper and lower flanges of the wall of the inner panel so that the molded plastic frame becomes supported on the door inner panel; and   a plurality of fasteners connecting the molded plastic frame and the door inner panel independent of at least one molded receptacle and flange to attach the molded plastic frame to the door inner panel and thereby prevent disconnection of the slip-together interfitting elements.